Monitoring Landform Changes in a Mining Area in Mexico Using Geomatic Techniques

Mining activities are conducted to extract valuable minerals from the Earth, used in the manufacture of many objects. However, these operations have been associated with significant landform alterations, such as deep excavations, artificial embankments, and landscape reshaping. In this study, remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) techniques were applied to verify landform changes induced by open-pit mining in Mazapil, Zacatecas, Mexico. Multi-temporal Landsat 5 and 8 satellite images, along with digital elevation models (DEMs) from 1998 and 2014, were used to detect variations in land cover and terrain shape. Analyses revealed ground depressions greater than −333 m and waste accumulations greater than +152 m, with an average standard deviation of ±3.6 m. A total excavation volume of 413,524,124 m³ and an embankment volume of 431,194,785 m³ were quantified, with an estimated standard deviation of ±810 m³. Despite limitations related to DEM resolution, data availability, and restricted mine access, the proposed method proved effective for the remote quantification of large-scale topographic alterations in open-pit mining areas. The integration of satellite imagery, multi-temporal DEMs, and geospatial analysis constitutes a cost-effective and replicable methodology for environmental monitoring, landscape modeling, and hydrological risk assessment in both active and post-mining environments.